OUR PICK OF EDINBURGH FRINGE 2026
Written by Johanna Kirkpatrick
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is nearly upon us and with thousands of performances taking place across the city, deciding what to see can sometimes feel like a daunting task. As the world's largest performing arts festival, the Fringe offers an incredible platform for artists from every discipline imaginable, including the folk and traditional arts scene.
To help narrow down the options, we've put together a selection of shows featuring women and gender minorities whose work is rooted in folk and trad. From Gaelic song and storytelling to a blend of piping, Irish step dancing and Scottish Highland dancing – or even the chance to perform on stage yourself – there's plenty to experience this August! The artists below are not only preserving and celebrating traditional culture, but also using it as a living, evolving art-form to tell new stories, explore identity, and connect audiences across generations.
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Combining electronica with traditional instruments, this show is a meld of storytelling, folklore and song with roots in the north east of Scotland.
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Presenting self-written songs and performances of favourites by other song writers, Kim Edgar will be working with a choir formed on the same day from a singing workshop.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/kim-edgar-songs-of-unity
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An immersive show combining music and visual arts to investigate and celebrate Scotland’s wildflowers.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/flowercore-by-siobhan-wilson
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A celebration of women’s role in traditional song with a mix of original and traditional songs from Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist, Ella Munro.
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Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, Anne Martin brings to life the story of the Macpherson family who were sent to Australia during the Highland clearances. This show combines Gaelic songs and spoken word to connect the past with the here and now.
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'Absolutely incredible' (BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour). Chloe Matharu is an award-winning Scottish-Indian singer, songwriter and harpist from the West Coast of Scotland.
Chloe Matharu brings her songs inspired by her time in the Merchant Navy to the Edinburgh Fringe. She brings a fresh perspective to the natural world which continues the tradition of maritime folk music.
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Scots Language advocate and folksinger Iona Fyfe presents a solo voice and piano show, presenting her varied mix of traditional songs, Scots translations of contemporary songs and fresh original material.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/iona-fyfe-scottish-folksinger
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Ailsa Dixon (who performed at The BIT Collective’s Celtic Connections event) and Niall Moorjani collaborate to create a blend of storytelling with Orcadian folk song which uses the tradition to tell new stories about the contemporary Scottish trans experience.
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/selkie-past-present-future
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A reclamation of three distinct traditions by three of their finest performances. This mix of dance and music urges its audiences to find new ways of looking at long established traditions.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from 7th – 31st August 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Tickets for these shows vary in price, making it possible to experience the festival whatever your budget. You can browse the full programme, find more information and book tickets through the official Fringe website at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Whether you're a dedicated folk fan or simply looking to discover something new, we hope this guide helps you uncover some unforgettable performances this August.
